Financial Aid

Need-based financial aid is available to students who demonstrate a need for additional resources to help pay college costs. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed annually to determine eligibility for applicable financial aid programs.

Financial aid at Baker University is awarded based on a student’s financial need. Simply put, financial need is the cost of education minus the expected family contribution. The cost of attending Baker University is listed in the “Educational Expenses” section in the Course Catalog and Student Handbook. The student’s family contribution is derived from the financial figures as calculated on the FAFSA using a formula set by the Department of Education.

• Federal PELL Grant – Targeted to highest-need students
• Federal SEOG Grant – Targeted to Federal Pell Grant recipients
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan – Based on need. Fixed interest rate. Interest free while you are in school. Repayment begins 60 days after student is less than half time.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan – Not based on need. Fixed interest rate. Interest accrues while you are in school. You have the option of paying the interest while you’re in school or having it added to the principle when you go into repayment. Repayment begins 60 days after student is less than half time.
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan – Available to parents of dependent students. Fixed interest rate. Interest accrues while you are in school. Repayment begins 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed for the academic year.

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan – Not based on need. Fixed interest rate. Interest accrues while you are in school. You have the option of paying the interest while you’re in school or having it added to the principle when you go into repayment. Repayment begins 60 days after student is less than half time.
• Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan – Available to graduate students. Fixed interest rate. Interest accrues after funds are disbursed, but can be deferred as long as you are enrolled at least half time. The interest is added to the principle. Repayment begins 60 days after student is less than half time.

To be eligible, you must satisfy the following:

• Be accepted for admission
• Have a valid Social Security Number
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Certify compliance with Selective Service Registration requirements (males only)
• Not be in default on any loan or owe a refund on any grant made under any Title IV program
• Be in good academic standing
• Be enrolled in an eligible academic program on at least a half-time basis
• For most programs, demonstrate a financial need
• Have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent

*Please note: Maximum amounts for the academic year are listed below; you may or may not qualify for the maximum.

Dependent Bachelor’s Students

0-23 hours – $5,500
24-47 hours – $6,500
48+ hours – $7,500

Independent Bachelor’s Students

0-23 hours  – $9,500
24-47 hours – $10,500
40+ hours – $12,500

Graduate Students

$20,500 for each academic year of at least 18 credits and 30 weeks

*MLA Degree Program

Amount varies by enrollment period and number of credit hours. Maximum loan eligibility can exceed the direct costs of tuition and books.

• Financial aid cannot be awarded for Directed Field Experience (DFE) course work.
• Financial aid cannot be awarded for the doctoral 1-credit-hour continuous enrollment course.
• Continuing education courses do not qualify for financial aid.

• Apply early. A minimum of four weeks is recommended to assure that financial aid eligibility can be determined before classes begin.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please print off the confirmation page once completed. The Baker University school code is 001903.
• Complete Baker’s Financial Aid Application.
• Complete the Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at studentloans.gov.
• Complete the Title IV authorization form.

Alumni Referral Scholarship | If referred by a Baker graduate you could qualify for a one-time $1,000 award. Learn More

Alumni Legacy Scholarship | This $1,000 per year (for up to four years) scholarship is available to freshmen applying to the College of Arts and Sciences for an undergraduate degree who have at least one parent, step-parent, grandparent, or legal guardian that has received a degree from Baker University. Learn More

Alumni Advisory Council Undergraduate Scholarship | The Alumni Advisory Council awards scholarships to deserving undergraduate students. Learn more and apply.

Additional Resources

fastWEB – Financial aid search through the Web
FinAid – Unusual sources of funding links
American Educational Guidance Center – Free college scholarship search
Scholarships.com, LLC – Free college scholarship
Kansas Board of Regents
Financial Aid Information
Minority Scholarship Links
Scholarships for all minorities
American Indian College Fund – Provides funding and assistance
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
International Education Financial Aid – Provides a free searchable database of scholarships for international students
United Negro College Fund

If all paperwork is finalized you will receive an award letter during your first week of class. You should sign the award letter and return it to us immediately so the first loan funds can be disbursed. Please note: Your award letter will give you the timeframe (loan period) you are awarded for and the projected disbursement dates.

Your loan funds will be disbursed directly to Baker. You will be emailed a notification when the funds have been applied to your account. Please be aware that you must be attending class before the scheduled disbursement will be released.

There are usually two disbursements per loan period: the first near the beginning of your course work and the second after you have earned half of the credits for the loan period.

Credit balances will be available approximately two weeks after your loan funds have disbursed. Credit balances can be distributed electronically or via paper check. You will receive an email after you begin the program that will allow you to choose how you want your credit balance funds to be distributed.

You must contact your current loan servicer(s) and request an in-school deferment form. Complete your section of the in-school deferment form and return it to the Office of the Registrar at Baker University. The form can be emailed to records@bakerU.edu, faxed to 785.594.4521, or mailed to PO Box 65, Baldwin City, KS 66006. The form will then be completed and returned to your loan servicer(s) once your class has started.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Each academic year is a minimum of 24 credit hours and a minimum of 30 weeks. Once you have successfully completed the academic year, the Financial Aid Office will email you renewal instructions.

Graduate Degree Programs

Each academic year is a minimum of 18 credit hours and a minimum of 30 weeks. Once you have successfully completed the academic year, the Financial Aid Office will email you renewal instructions.

Financial aid is based on the percentage of time that you remain enrolled. If you plan to withdraw from a course or a program, you must notify our Student Services in writing. A refund will be calculated once the Student Services Office provides us with official notification of your withdrawal. Institutional charges and financial aid are adjusted once the withdrawal date is determined. For more details, ask a financial aid counselor or refer to the Course Catalog and Student Handbook.

If you experience a serious medical, family or scheduling problem greater than two weeks, you can request a leave of absence, to avoid jeopardizing your financial aid. This leave is not to exceed 90 days per 12-month period. It is possible for more than one leave to be granted, provided the total days of leave do not exceed 90 days per 12-month period.

Your first step should be to contact Student Services immediately regarding a proposed schedule change. You must then request your leave of absence in writing before beginning your leave. Letters should be directed to the Financial Aid Office, and must bear your signature, per the requirements of the U.S. Department of Education. In emergency situations, we may accept your written request after leave has begun. Your loan repayment will not begin during this time period provided you have followed the steps necessary to gain an approved leave of absence. If you do not return from your approved leave of absence, we will use your last day of class attendance before your leave when calculating repayment scheduling.

The Title IV School Code for all Baker University campuses is 001903.

You can apply for federal aid even if you will receive 100% company reimbursement for tuition and books. However, estimated company reimbursement and outside scholarships must be taken into account when aid eligibility is determined.

Yes. Any veteran who wishes to apply for veterans education benefits should contact the Baker University veterans certifying official. The certifying official can provide application forms, points of contact, and details about the application process. Veterans should notify the certifying official of changes to their course schedules because a reduction in course load may result in a reduction of benefits. If reductions are not promptly reported, the veteran may accrue indebtedness to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

You may choose to send your benefits application to Baker University or to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans Affairs processing takes 60 to 90 days; the student is responsible for tuition payments to the university. Veterans Affairs checks are sent directly to the student.

Learn more about veterans education benefits at Baker.

Students who provide a valid email address on their FAFSA will be sent an email by the federal processor that contains a secure link to their Student Aid Report (SAR) information on the Web. Students can see all of their application processing results, including their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), database match results, and all SAR comments associated with the transaction. Students can access their SAR information on the Web an unlimited number of times. Students who do not provide an email address will be mailed a paper SAR within 10 days of submitting the FAFSA.

The FAFSA requires that students indicate their current marital status as of the date the FAFSA is completed. If a student is not married as of the date the FAFSA is filed, the student must file as single. Once an application has been submitted, the marital status cannot be changed.

Because students sometimes make significant errors when reporting application information, the federal government has incorporated a verification process as part of the student financial aid program requirements. The university is required to verify that the information submitted by the student is accurate and to make necessary corrections before proceeding further with the application.

To simplify the verification process, it is recommended that you use the IRS data retrieval tool to transfer your federal tax information directly to your FAFSA. The tool is not available in all circumstances; however, if it is available to you, it is highly recommended that you use it.

If you are selected for verification, the university may ask for a copy of your (and your spouse’s) tax return transcript and for the completion of a verification worksheet, which will provide additional corroborating information (such as names and ages of family members and nontaxable income items). Once the university completes the verification process and makes necessary corrections, the aid application can be advanced, aid eligibility determined, and an award made to the student.

When calculating your financial need, the formula takes into consideration estimated tuition, fees, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Once your tuition and fees are paid, excess funds will be disbursed to you. These funds are available for your other educational expenses.

Failing a course will affect aid eligibility and delay future disbursements. Students are expected to complete (get a passing grade) a minimum number of credits each year and to maintain a minimum grade point average to be eligible for aid. Additional information on satisfactory academic progress and financial aid can be found in the SPGS Catalog and Student Handbook.

In most cases, repayment of student loans begins six months after graduation, withdrawal from school, or dropping below half-time status.

All records are held in strict confidence. Information related to your academic, financial aid or accounting files will be released only to you, and only with proper identification. If you want other parties (including your spouse) to have access to this information, you must complete a FERPA Authorization release form.